Best of the Hoods

Give a warm welcome to these new neighbors.

No, not a bar. But this friendly craft liquor boutique is the perfect solution for the neighborhood’s nest-loving residents who want to join the cocktail craze by stirring up a batch of Negronis—at home.

Replacing another café at a prime corner location on Devon Avenue, this airy room serves up everything you need: Counter Culture coffee, fresh pastries, weekly stacks of The Reader, and lots of tables.

You’ll want to eat Joshua Marrelli’s deeply flavorful Butcher’s Burger and tender ricotta gnocchi (his grandmother’s special recipe) every night. And you can—both are available to go from the deli counter.

There’s nothing remotely Gaelic about this pub-concept bar near the busy intersection of Montrose and Lincoln. But the large patio, ample sports on view, and 20 beers on tap keep the crowds pouring in.

Nestled under the Paulina Brown Line station, this punk-themed café may be the last place you’d think to find artisanal pastries of such high caliber. No Wi-Fi, and the communal table is standing only.